By PAUL GOTHAM
WEBSTER, N.Y. — Elena Barr converted a penalty kick, and Rachel Lee scored on a corner kick opportunity as the second-seeded Pittsford Mendon girls’ soccer team defeated No. 3 Brockport, 2-0 Wednesday night at Webster Thomas High School.
With the win, Mendon (No. 18 NYSSWA Class A) advanced to Saturday’s Section V Class A2 championship game.
Barr’s sixth goal of the season came less than seven minutes into the contest. The junior midfielder facilitated the sequence that led to the foul inside the 18-yard box.
Barr made a 15-yard rush before feeding teammate Merin Manske. After a ball played to the right flank, Bridget Merkel took a cross in the middle third of the field, cut to her left and was taken down before getting a chance to shoot.
7’ GOAL Elena Barr converts the Pk to give @mendonsoccer an early 1- nil lead. pic.twitter.com/bDWdCQBe7P
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 27, 2021
“We constantly harp on trying to make sure we come out focused and not letting the nerves get us,” Mendon head coach Eric Pritchard said of his team’s ability to find its offensive rhythm early in the contes. “Use our nerves to sharpen our skills. When we do that, we play well.”
Lee’s 10th goal of the season came less than nine minutes into the second half off Lauren DiMarzo’s service from the left flag.
49’ GOAL Rachel Lee nods in a Lauren DiMarzo corner kick for a 2-0 @mendonsoccer lead. pic.twitter.com/1Ma39C6X3Z
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 27, 2021
Leah Shaffer made three saves for the shutout, Mendon’s eighth clean sheet of the season.
The win was the fifth straight for Mendon (14-3-1) and third in as many tries over Brockport (12-5-1).
Big stop by Leah Shaffer keeps the Mendon lead at 2-0. pic.twitter.com/GLUpBd3Bm5
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) October 27, 2021
“It’s very tough to do especially against a team that is so close in level as yours,” Pritchard said of the season sweep. “It can go either way.”
The Blue Devils had been shut out just twice this season – both in losses to the Vikings.
“They’re very good at crossing the ball,” Pritchard said of Brockport. “They create a lot of chances like that. We tried to shut that down.”
Mendon returns to the finals after reaching the Class A championship in 2019. Pritchard’s squad will face cross-town rival Pittsford Sutherland in Saturday’s final. A 3 p.m. start time is scheduled at Webster Schroeder.
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